Cyclone Women Look To Defend Griak Title

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State women’s cross country team heads to Falcon Heights, Minn. Saturday for the 28th annual Roy Griak Invitational. The premier event is hosted by the University of Minnesota at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.

The No. 26 ranked Cyclones are two-time defending champions and have won three of the last four races at Griak.

The race will feature talent from elite programs including No. 5 Arizona, No. 12 Michigan State, No. 19 Minnesota, No. 20 Vanderbilt, No. 21 North Carolina State, No. 26 Iowa State and No. 29 Butler. Other notable teams in the field receiving votes in the latest United State Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCA) poll include Weber State (15), Syracuse (12) and Georgia (3).

“We are ready to get going,” Grove-McDonough said. “Everyone is excited to get started. We aren’t overly hyped because it is still September. This is the starting point for us and will be our first measuring point for the season ahead. We’re going to come out and show what we’re made of.”

The NCAA selection committee can base judgment for the at-large selection process starting this weekend.